Mindfulness meditation reduced addiction severity and game craving in people with internet gaming disorder more effectively than progressive muscle relaxation. After one month of training, functional connectivity between the executive control network and both the default mode network and reward-related brain regions increased. These connectivity changes correlated negatively with dopamine and acetylcholine transporters and positively with serotonin and GABA receptors. The findings suggest mindfulness meditation enhances top-down control over cravings by altering brain network interactions.
Mindfulness meditation (MM) reduced depression, addiction severity, and cravings in patients with internet gaming disorder and co-occurring depression (IGD-D) more than progressive muscle relaxation did. After 8 training sessions over one month, brain scans showed that MM strengthened functional connectivity in networks involved in executive control, emotion regulation, and self-referential thought. These connectivity changes correlated with several neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin and dopamine receptors. The findings suggest MM works by enhancing top-down control and disrupting negative reinforcement mechanisms, making it a promising therapy for IGD-D.
Both online and face-to-face mindfulness meditation reduce the severity of Internet Gaming Disorder and enhance cortical structure, particularly in the superior temporal gyrus and right insula. In a randomized trial with 100 participants, eight sessions of mindfulness meditation (face-to-face or online) increased cortical thickness in the superior temporal gyrus compared to progressive muscle relaxation. Face-to-face meditation also increased local gyrification index in the left superior temporal gyrus and right insula. These structural changes correlated with reduced disorder severity. Mindfulness meditation also reduced structural covariance between the right superior temporal gyrus and default mode and sensory networks, suggesting neuroanatomical targets for treatment.
Mindfulness meditation reduces gaming and depression severity in people with co-occurring internet gaming disorder and depression more effectively than progressive muscle relaxation. Brain imaging showed that mindfulness meditation decreased activity in the medial frontal gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus while increasing activity in the left lentiform when participants faced gaming cues. It also altered functional connectivity between these regions, suggesting changes in executive control and reward processing. Progressive muscle relaxation produced similar but weaker effects. Mindfulness meditation may be an efficacious treatment for individuals with both conditions.
Internet gaming disorder involves abnormal functional connectivity in brain networks for executive control and reward processing. A randomized clinical trial with 80 patients compared mindfulness meditation (twice-weekly for 8 sessions) to progressive muscle relaxation. Mindfulness meditation enhanced connectivity within the executive control network and between the executive control and reward networks, improving top-down control over gaming cravings. The findings suggest mindfulness meditation can effectively treat internet gaming disorder.